Observation
Australia’s relationships with the United States and China are among its most important. The United States is Australia’s main ally and its largest foreign investor, while China is the country’s largest trading partner by some margin. Yet both relationships have been the subject of intense debate in recent years: many are wary of the security threat posed by China’s growing military and technological capabilities, whereas President Trump has made the United States more unpredictable and transactional.
When asked which relationship is more important to Australia, a bare majority continue to prioritise the United States (52%), while a lower proportion prioritise China (43%). Sentiment on this question is largely unchanged from the last time it was asked five years ago, which is notable given the significant geopolitical shifts since 2020. The gap between the superpowers currently stands at nine points in America’s favour, where almost a decade ago they were tied.